Santa Claus lights the Saugatuck Center Christmas tree tonight as part of an event that included his arrival by boat, carols by the Greens Farms Academy’s Beachside Express, and rounds of hot chocolate and other goodies. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Taxpayers have until Feb. 1 to pay taxes without penalty. Accounts will be subject to an 18 percent (1.5 percent/month) penalty charge if paid late. Minimum interest charge is $2.

Failure to receive a bill does not abate the charges or interest.

Real estate taxes, personal property taxes, and sanitary sewer use and assessment bills may be paid by credit card, debit card or direct withdrawal from a checking account online at http://www.westportct.gov.

An application for a permit to demolish the house at Westport’s 281 Compo Road South, across from the Minute Man Monument, is in process. Built in 1961, the two-story colonial has 3,870-square feet, is situated on a one-acre property and last changed ownership, according to Town Assessor records, in August 2007 for $2,428,000. Because the house was built more than 50 years ago, the application will be reviewed by the Westport Historic District Commission. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

After much debate, the Westport Board of Finance tonight by a 4-2 vote approved $50,000 for consulting services “to improve the Wayfinding System for motorists and develop directional and informational signs for pedestrians.” First Selectman Jim Marpe said signage in Westport was a “hodgepodge” and Melissa Kane, chair of the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee, showed several slides (above) to illustrate the point. She estimated it could take $350,000 to $400,00 to do the recommended work, which would also include design of mobile apps to aid visitors. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

In the wake of rough fiscal waters, a $1.265 million request tonight to the Board of Finance to dredge sand from the Ned Dimes Marina at Westport’s Compo Beach and its channel seemed as grounded as a centerboard hitting bottom.

The Ned Dimes Marina at Compo Beach and adjacent channel were last dredged in 1993. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

The reason: the town, fearful of financial uncertainty due to the state’s economic malaise, seemed queasy.

Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Fava said that 80 percent of the funds would be paid by boat slip holder fees over 20 years, the rest by the town. It was a matter of safety for boaters who might run aground, she said.

But with zero-based budgeting being the catchphrase of the night, her pitch to dredge 20,727 cubic yards of sand—the first such dredging since 1993—was not good enough.

A rear-end accident involving two cars westbound in front of 371 Post Road East tonight sent one driver (in car at right) to Bridgeport Hospital with non life-threatening injuries, officials said. Several children were in the car at left, but were in child restraint seats and were not injured, they said. Traffic was tied up in the area until both cars could be towed. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

One person was injured tonight in a rear-end accident involving two westbound cars in front of 371 Post Road East near the intersection with Compo Road. His injuries were non life-threatening, according to emergency workers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe and Representative Town Meeting (RTM) member Matthew Mandell today lauded the RTM’s unanimous approval Tuesday night of a $440,000 appropriation for a Saugatuck transit oriented district master plan.

Of the money, which is 100 percent reimbursable from the state, $265,000 will go to the study and $175,000 for preliminary design work of specific projects.

“I appreciate the unanimous support of the RTM for this important project,” said Marpe. “The Saugatuck area is an important part of Wesport’s heritage, but also a critical part of our future because of its location as a transportation hub. Its revitalization has made it both a destination and place to live.”

Mandell, who represents the Saugatuck district, said that if the study aims at maintaining Westport’s small town identity and not making it into a transit hub area like Norwalk and Bridgeport, “it’s going to be a great project.”